Ticket systems

ABSTRACT

The invention provides change dispensers, each for dispensing coins of a different value, connected logically to switches, each for setting up the value of tickets required to be issued, and possibly also for causing issue of such tickets, and to further switches, each for setting up the value of monies tendered, so that by operating one appropriate switch from each series of switches, the correct change (if any) is issued without any mental arithmetic on the part of the operator.

United States Patent 1 James TICKET SYSTEMS Inventor: Alec Patrick James, Birmingham,

England Assignee: National Research Development Corporation, London, England Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 Appl. No.: 327,290

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 16, 1972 Great Britain 7054/72 Mar. 1, 1972 Great Britain 9515/72 US. Cl. 133/2 Int. Cl. G07d 1/06 Field of Search 194/1 N, 4, 9, l0, DIG. l4, 194/DIG. 8; 133/2; 232/10; 235/31, 32, 33

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1958 Miller 232/7 X Sept. 10, 1974 2,974,772 3/1961 Zeigle et al. 133/2 X 3,141,538 7/1964 Goodman 3,215,240 11/1965 Keim et al. 133/2 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerJoseph J. Rolla Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention provides change dispensers, each for dispensing coins of a different value, connected logically to switches, each for setting up the value of tickets required to be issued, and possibly also for causing issue of such tickets, and to further switches, each for setting up the value of monies tendered, so that by operating one appropriate switch from each series of switches, the correct change (if any) is issued without any mental arithmetic on the part of the operator.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPIOIBN 1 3.834.406

sum 2 UF'2 CHANGE l 1 DISPENSER I 2 5 G 7 v a IO N T l FARE TEN'DERED PANEL Fig.

TICKET SYSTEMS This invention relates to ticket systems for use on, for example, public transport vehicles, and its objects are to expedite the issue of tickets and the boarding of passengers, particularly in change giving situations.

It is now recognised that the length of time a vehicle spends at each passenger boarding point is an important factor in the economics of a passenger transport system, and has wider effects in the economic life of the community, because of the obstacle to free flow of traffic caused by a stationary vehicle. Given appropriate ticket issuing equipment possibly the major remaining problem in expediting boarding, particularly where the driver is the collector of fares, is that of giving change when the passenger does not tender the exact fare. Indeed it has even been proposed that no change should be given so as to eliminate the time required for this operation. There is therefore a long felt want for efficient change giving apparatus which is sufficiently compact and reliable and simple in operation, to be useable on a passenger transport vehicle and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, change giving apparatus comprises means for making a record of the value of a number of coins tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, and means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records.

The records" may be transitory in nature, being established in electrical or mechanical equipment for the duration of a complete cycle of operations including for example issuing of a ticket and issuing of the appropriate change, and the record may then be destroyed.

Preferably the change giving apparatus of the inven tion is associated with a ticket issuing apparatus so that the making of the record of the value of the tickets to be issued automatically causes operation of that ticket issuing apparatus so as to deliver the required tickets.

Preferably, also the apparatus operates on a double escrow system where the coins tendered are placed on a tray or in a like receptacle for recognition by the operator of the apparatus, and at a certain point in the cycle of operations the coins are transferred automatically into a secure container but in which they remain visible whilst change is delivered, so that in the event of any dispute as to the correct value of the change and of the coins tendered they are available for checking, and hence remain in this position before being delivered to a common cash store which delivery may be effected at some point during a repeat cycle of operations with the next passenger.

The double escrow system may therefore comprise a series of superposed transparent boxes of containers, ones of which may be accessible for example via a key operated lock if its is necessary to remove coins therefrom.

Also in accordance with the invention, apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing comprises a first switch set having individual switch means each identifiable with a different fare value and forming means for indicating the value of a ticket to be issued, a second switch set having individual switch means each identifiable with a different total value of coins (or tokens) tendered for payment, and hence forming means for indicating the value of the coins collected, change issuing means, and a circuitry connecting the two sets of switches and completed via the change issuing means for dispensing coins equal (or in some relation thereto) to the difference between the indicated values.

The change giving means per se may comprise individual coin stacks, one for each value of coin of use in the system.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic view showing an installation around the driver/fare collector position on a public transport vehicle, and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the circuitry required, in a different but simplified installation.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the operators seat 10 is part surrounded by a wall 12 and the apparatus of the invention is fitted in permanent or ternporary location on the wall. Conveniently the ticket issuing apparatus indicated generally by the reference 14 is relatively permanently installed on the wall but is provided with a connection lead and plug (not shown) for connection to the change giving apparatus and the latter is releasably mounted on the wall and is made as a complete unit, apart the power pack 16 and certain parts of the electrical or electronic circuitry which may be required. The removable portion includes the entire supply of coins, as change and as collected coins, so that the driver can remove all of this apparatus and all of the money at the end of one shift and a new driver can fit his own set of equipment in place relatively quickly, for example merely by adjusting a clamping screw which fixes the apparatus to the wall and plugging in the necessary connections. However, the apparatus may be permanently installed and alternative means provided for removing monies as and when required.

The illustrated apparatus basically comprises a first swich set including the uppermost row of buttons or other switch operating means provided on casing 18 and each marked with one of the possible values of ticket to be dispensed. Each of these switches may constitute a ticket issuing switch and be individually connected to the ticket issuing mechanism 14 so as to cause issue of the appropriate tickets when the switches are operated. In addition the operation of any one button establishes a portion of a possible signal route for subsequent change operation, after the coin tendered button has been operated.

The remaining two rows of buttons on casing 18 therefore represent the value (that is the total value) of coins tendered.

The illustrated apparatus further comprises a tray or box 20 into which the coins are placed by a passenger, so that the driver can scan them and then press the appropriate button of the coin tendered set. Each of the coin tendered buttons further establishes a possible route for a signal and this aspect of the matter will be further explained with reference to FIG. 2 hereinafter.

Each of the coin tendered buttons further causes operation of a first solenoid to displace the base of the coin reception tray and allow the coins to drop into the transparent box 22 so that the coins are in visible escrow, and the circuitry established by the pressing of two buttons, one from the bottom two rows and one from the top row, operates the change giving mechanism (or not) to cause the change to be delivered into the tray 24, and the tickets are also delivered via chute 26 into the same tray, which is illuminated by a spot light 28 so as to direct attention to the ticket and coins.

The operator is then free to commence a second operation with a subsequent passenger and when the coins placed on tray 20 by the next passenger have been recognised and are ready to be placed in escrow, the ones from box 22 are discharged into a cash box 30 and return of the solenoid operated floor of the box 22 precedes and possibly initiates displacement of the floor of the tray 20. Hence if there is any challenge to the amount of change given to one person before the second persons change has reached the escrow box, the dispute can be resolved for example by unlocking the box via key-operated lock 32 and removing the money therefrom.

If desired, there may be a whole series of superposed boxes, to allow challenge by a person two or three or more positions removed from the passenger whose ticket issuing cycle is current.

Change is stored in a series of tubes 34, each of which supports a stack of coins of like value in face-to-face contact, each of the stacks being appropriate to a different value of coin. Coins are fed from the bottom of each stack singly, for example, by solenoid operated pushers, as referred toin the said co-pending Application.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which illustrates the circuitry required for automatic change dispensing but for a simpler system than that illustrated in FIG. 1. In this connection it will be appreciated that the complexity of any system depends firstly upon the number of different fare values (and combinations .of different fare values) to be considered, and secondly upon the range of different coins to be considered. The additional circuitry required is however relatively straight forward and it is merely the number of buttons and possibly coin stacks which may vary from situation to situation.

In FIG. 2, the situation is considered where single tickets are issued to any of four different values which may be considered as being 3, 5, 7 and 10 (p). In this situation, an intending passenger may tender the precise fare, or assuming that coins up to the value of 10p coins are tendered, and ignoring the possibilities inherent in the use of 1 212 coins and 2 /zp coins as a simplification, may tender a 4, 5, or 10p total if a 3p ticket is required, 6p or 10p if a p is required, 8 or 10;) if a 7p fare is required and 1 1p if a 10p fare is required. The other possible combinations with these coins will not arise in practice; for example the 3p fare (apart from the possibility of 3p being tendered) may be represented by two 2p coins, one 5p coin or one 10p coin, but not by coins to the value of 6, 7, 8, or 1 I p, because 6p could only be made up of a 5 and I p (when the 1 would be superfluous and change needs only to be given from the 5, or from three 2p coins, when one of them would again be superfluous and change could be given from the 4 and so on.

The arrangement of FIG. 2 is provided with three coin dispensers to give lp, 2p or 5p coins, singly, as change.

Considering first the possibility that the passenger tenders 3p and requires one 3p ticket, then both three buttons are pressed but the one on the fare tendered panel is not connected (apart possibly from connections to the escrow mechanism or otherwise) and no circuit to the coin dispensers is made. The ticket is delivered when the fare required button is operated and nothing further is required. If however the passenger required the 3p fare tenders 4;), then a circuit via the l p coin dispenser, the 3p fare required switch and the 4p fare tendered switch is set up along the line indicated by the reference numerals 40 FIG. 2, and this causes the solenoid or like issuing mechanism of the 1 coin dispenser to operate once and deliver a 1 2 coin. It will be noted that operation of the 3p ticket switch also establishes possible routes to the 2p and 5p coin dispensers of FIG. 2, but the individual connections therefrom lead to the 5p and 10p fare tendered switches, and since those are not operated in this particular situation the further coin dispensers are not operated at that time.

Reverting now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the centre line of switch buttons provides values equal to those of the top most line of switches, that is the situation where the fare tendered may be equal to the ticket required and in such situation no circuitry will be set up. The centre line of switches will therefore be used on occasions when the exact fare is tendered. The third line of switches is used for any other coin combination, but as previously pointed out, the total number of switches required is always less than the maximum value of coins which might be tendered or ticket required. The illustrated values cover the complete range for those particular circumstances. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the switch buttons on casing 18 is not significant, and any particular arrangement may be used to suit the convenience of the operator.

In order to build apparatus capable of use in more complex circumstances, variations will be required as will be understood by the man skilled in the art. For example, where one passenger pays for two or more tickets, the possibilities are to arrange the ticket issuing switches so that upon each operation a ticket is issued, and then set up the total value after immobilising the ticket issuing machine and by operating the fare tendered switch cause operation of the coin dispensers. Alternatively for example the coin dispensers may be provided with individual switches allowing them to be operated after the driver has calculated the change due and without using the change giving mechanism.

It will also be appreciated that in the forms of the invention described herein, the coins are recognised by the operator and their value set up by use of button operated switches, but it is equally'possible to replace the tray or like 20 with a coin slot feeding the coins to recognition devices for example by chutes of different sizesand with switches operated by the coin passage along the chutes so that the total value of coins inserted is set up electrically or electronically to the same end.

Where a very great variety of different values of fares are in question, it is preferred to provide an electronic calculator device with separate switch buttons for each coin value and having a display panel with electronic means for causing a visual indication of the total value represented by the operated switch buttons to be displayed, the display panel being connected to a first set of switch means carrying the ticket values and to the change issuing means so that the correct change is dispensed.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention therefore, apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing means comprises a first set of switches each corresponding to a different fare value, a display panel with electronic means for causing a visual indication of the total value to be displayed, a set of further switch means connected to change dispensing means, and means connecting the display panel to both sets of switch means.

In one arrangement within the scope of this last mentioned aspect of the invention, the first switches may each correspond to a different possible ticket value and the display panel may be arranged to total a set of such values achieved by pressing any of the fare value switches, and the operator may compare a tendered sum of money in excess of the displayed fare total value and then press one of the further switches to cause change dispensing and cause the value of the change dispensed to be added to the visually displayed total until that total is equal to the total monies tendered. lnsofar as it is then not necessary to have separate switch means for each possible value of coins which may be tendered, only because each of the switch means may have only a single pair of contacts, such apparatus may be substantially simpler than that previously described with reference to the drawings whilst being capable of dealing with a wider range of fare totals (although possibly still based upon individual fare values in a fixed range) but is likely to be a little slower in operation. This apparatus will however cope with a situation where a single sum of money is tendered in payment for a number of individual tickets, which may be called the family travel situation.

Thus for example a passenger requiring two p tickets and one half fare at 5p may tender a 50p piece and the operator will press the 10p and 5p switches corresponding to ticket issue (and these may again be directly coupled to the ticket issuing machine to cause issue of the tickets) and such further switch means, for example a 5p switch to issue :1 5p coin as part of the change and at the same time advance the display indication from the p sum of the tickets issued to p, and then press a 10p switch to cause issue of two 10p coins as further change, and raise the diplayed total successively through p to p, thus equalising the coin originally tendered.

In any of the arrangements, except one where a switch may be operated on a number of successive occasions to cause issue of a coin on each such occasion, for example in the arrangements described with reference to the accompanying drawing, where circumstances require a change dispenser to issue two or more coins of equal value to complete a transaction, the appropriate connection route may include a capacitor which becomes charged upon completion of the circuit through the appropriate switch and which discharges to pulse the appropriate solenoid or other means the required number of times.

In some public transport systems (although the present invention is by no means limited to use in such systems or to use in transport systems generally) there is now some demand for passengers to proffer the correct fare upon penalty if they do not. Thus for example in some public transport undertakings no change is given even if for example a 10p is tendered for a 3p fare, The

present invention allows maintenance of this principle if desired, but in a mitigated form, for example by arranging the switching connections so that change is always given 1 p short of the arithmetically computed amount, or by issuing /zp coins as change in lieu of l p coins as change. Alternatively a change dispenser as described can be arranged to issue for example a /2p coin with each ticket on occasions when no other change is dispensed. t

instead of using a separate switch for each fare value, a keyboard can be provided, for example having three rows of digits corresponding to units, 10's and s (pence) so that precise fares calculated for long journeys can be set up to allow change giving to follow any of the alternatives referred to.

If desired, an intermediate unit may be provided for location between the power pack and the ticket issuing and change issuing mechanism and arranged firstly to complete the power supply circuit, and so that tickets cannot be issued and change cannot be given (or either of these functions cannot be effected) until the circuit is in position; the unit may secondly be arranged to accumulate signals corresponding to statistics of operation, as hereinafter explained, or such statistics collector may be a separate unit and also connected to the power by the intermediate unit.

The statistics collector may utilise magnetic tape or wire, preferably a multi-track magnetic tape and comprise record heads connected at least to the ticket issuing and change giving machines. When the system is employed in a vehicle such as a public transport omnibus, turnstile barriers may be fitted, or light beams, so that one track of the tape carries a record of the number of passengers boarding and alighting. A further track or tracks may carry a record of tickets issued and collected, and a further track may record stage points.

Collectively the tape or like carried information may convey a complete record of the journeys of a vehicle and its fare transactions, enabling subsequent analysis to reveal different situations. The tape may also carry a record of payments made, enabling a rapid analysis of the total earnings of the vehicle, and hence the vehicle crew may check in the tape with the monies taken at the end of a working shift.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, and wherein a collector box or tray is provided for receiving the tendered coins and operation of the means for recording their value effects transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily.

2. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, and wherein a collector box or tray is provided for receiving the tendered coins and operation of the means for recording the value of the tickets to be issued effects transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a repeat operation of said ticket value recording means causes initially a transfer of the said coins from a second box to a cash store, and finally a transfer of the further coins inserted at the start of the repeat operation to the second box.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said collector box has a displaceable floor which forms the roof of said second box.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second box has a displaceable floor which normally closes a coin chute leading to the cash store.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said floor is a swinging plate powered by a solenoid, and spring returned.

7. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, a collector box for receiving the tendered coins, operation of the means for recording their value effecting transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily, said collector box having a displaceable floor which forms the roof of said second box, and said second box having a displaceable floor which normally closes a coin chute leading to the cash store.

8. Change-dispensing apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing equipment, comprising a first set of switches corresponding to different denominations of tickets to be issued; a second set of switches corresponding to different values of coins or tokens tendered for payment, a visual display unit having inputs connected to said first and second sets of switches and adapted to totalize the values of those of the first set of switches which are operated to form a first total and to totalize the values of those of the second set of switches which are operated to form a second total, and changedispensing means having a set of switches and being connected to said visual display inputs and operable to dispense change in dependence upon operation of its switches whereby such change-dispensing is accompanied by additive operation of the display unit to add the value of change dispensed to the first total to form :1 cumulative total representing the value of tickets issued and the value of change dispensed, for comparison with the second total corresponding to the value of the coins or tokens tendered for payment.

.9. Change dispensing apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing equipment, comprising a first switch set having individual switch means corresponding to different denominations of tickets to be issued, each individual switch means having at least one input and an output associated with each input; a second switch set having individual switch means corresponding to different total values of coins or tokens tendered for payment; and a plurality of electrically-operable change-dispensing units; each output of a given individual switch means of said first set being connected to the input of at least one of said change-dispensing units and having the associated input of said given individual switch means of said first set connected to an output of an individual switch means of the second set, the value of coinage or tokens of each of said individual switch means of the second set being equal to the sum of the denomination of said given indivudual switch means of the first set to which it is connected and the denomination of the change-dispensing unit or units to which said output of the first switch set given individual switch means is connected.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the change-dispensing means comprise a series of coin dispenser tubes of different diameters, each for housing a stack of coins of different value, and each having means for dispensing the coins one by one therefrom in accordance with the operation of said circuitry. 

1. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, and wherein a collector box or tray is provided for receiving the tendered coins and operation of the means for recording their value effects transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily.
 2. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, and wherein a collector box or tray is provided for receiving the tendered coins and operation of the means for recording the value of the tickets to be issued effects transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a repeat operation of said ticket value recording means causes initially a transfer of the said coins from a second box to a cash store, and finally a transfer of the further coins inserted at the start of the repeat operation to the second box.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said collector box has a displaceable floor which forms the roof of said second box.
 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second box has a displaceable floor which normally closes a coin chute leading to the cash store.
 6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said floor is a swinging plate powered by a solenoid, and spring returned.
 7. A ticket system comprising means for making a record of the value of a number of coins or tokens tendered, means for making a record of the value of a number of tickets to be issued, means for issuing change to the value of the difference between the two records, a collector box for receiving the tendered coins, operation of the means for recording their value effecting transfer of the said coins to a second box wherein said coins remain in visible escrow temporarily, said collector box having a displaceable floor which forms the roof of said second box, and said second box having a displaceable floor which normally closes a coin chute leading to the cash store.
 8. Change-dispensing apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing equipment, comprising a first set of switches corresponding to different denominations of tickets to be issued; a second set of switches corresponding to different values of coins or tokens tendered for payment, a visual display unit having inputs connected to said first and second sets of switches and adapted to totalize the values of those of the first set of switches which are operated to form a first total and to totalize the values of those of the second set of switches which are operated to form a second total, and changedispensing means having a set of switches and being connected to said visual display inputs and operable to dispense change in dependence upon operation of its switches whereby such change-dispensing is accompanied by additive operation of the display unit to add the value of change dispensed to the first total to form a cumulative total representing the value of tickets issued and the value of change dispensed, for comparison with the second total corresponding to the value of the coins or tokens tendered for payment.
 9. Change dispensing apparatus for use in association with ticket issuing equipment, comprising a first switch set having individual switch means corresponding to different denominations of tickets to be issued, each individual switch means having at least one input and an output associated with each input; a second switch set having individual switch means corresponding to different total values of coins or tokens tendered for payment; and a plurality of electrically-operable change-dispensing units; each output of a given individual switch means of said first set being connected to the input of at least one of said change-dispensing units and having the associated input of said given individual switch means of said first set connected to an output of an individual switch means of the second set, the value of coinage or tokens of each of said individual switch means of the second set being equal to the sum of the denomination of said given indivudual switch means of the first set to which it is connected and the denomination of the change-dispensing unit or units to which said output of the first switch set given individual switch means is connected.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the change-dispensing means comprise a series of coin dispenser tubes of different diameters, each for housing a stack of coins of different value, and each having means for dispensing the coins one by one therefrom in accordance with the operation of said circuitry. 